Eboney and Charles’ elopement at the California State Capitol Rose Garden was a perfect reminder of why we love documenting intimate weddings in a real, honest way.
Their ceremony was set to begin at 11 AM, but we arrived a little early to capture the full story of the day. From the ceremony setup to the small details and guests arriving, these quiet moments help bring everything together and give context to the day.
One of our favorite moments happened before the ceremony even started. The groom had forgotten his shirt at home, which turned into a fun, candid moment of him quickly getting dressed while doing his best not to look at the bride. It’s moments like these that you can’t plan, and exactly why we approach elopements in a documentary style.
We believe this is the most honest way to capture a wedding day. Instead of forcing moments, we let things unfold naturally and focus on what’s real.
As the ceremony began, there was no shortage of emotion. One of the most powerful moments was Eboney’s dad walking her down the aisle. You could feel how much it meant to him, and he couldn’t help but get emotional as he gave her away.
After the ceremony, everyone gathered around the couple for a fun and celebratory group moment, surrounding them with bubbles as they shared their first moments as newlyweds.
We then spent about 20 minutes capturing portraits of Eboney and Charles around the Capitol grounds, keeping things simple and focused on their connection.
From there, we headed across the street to JuJu Kitchen & Cocktails for their reception. We documented the details of the desserts and ended the day with them enjoying cake together, a perfect, relaxed ending to an already meaningful day.
Elopements like this are a reminder that weddings don’t have to be big to be powerful. When the focus is on the people and the moments, everything else falls into place.
If you’re planning an elopement and want it captured in a real, documentary style, we’d love to be part of it. Feel free to reach out and tell us more about your plans.
— Juan & Abygail
The Padillas
